OUR CREED: To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds, and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the of America and its constitution.

UNITED STATES VETERANS INCORPORTATED PALMETTO BASE NEWSLETTER March 2013

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Lost Boats 3

Picture of the Month 11

Members 12

Honorary Members 12

CO’s Stateroom 13

XO’S Stateroom 14

Meeting Attendees 15

Minutes 15

Old Business 16

New Business 16

Good of the Order 16

Base Contacts 17

Birthdays 17

Welcome 17

Binnacle List 17

Quote of the Month 17

Member Profile of the Month 18

Traditions of the Naval Service 23

Dates in U.S. Naval History 25

Dates in U.S. Submarine History 30

Submarine Memorials 47

Rally for Our Veterans 48

Monthly Calendar 49

Advertising Partners 50

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USS Perch (SS-176)

Lost on March 3, 1942 near with no immediate loss of life, while on her 1st war patrol. She survived 2 severe depth chargings in less than 200 Lost on: feet of water by 3 Japanese . The crew abandoned ship and scuttled her. Of the 61 officers and men taken prisoner, 53 survived the war.

Navy Photo / NavSource.com NavSource.org

Class: SS 172 Commissioned: 11/19/1936 Launched: 3/9/1936 Builder: Electric Boat Co () Length: 301 , Beam: 25 #Officers: 5, #Enlisted: 45 Fate: Had to be scuttled on 3 Mar 42 because of Japanese anit-submarine attempts. Most of the Perch crew were taken to illegal question camp of Ofuna, NavSource.org and were forced to work mines until the close of WWII.

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USS Grampus (SS-207)

Lost on March 5, 1943 with the loss of 72 officers and men, on her 6th war Lost on: patrol. She was lost in Vella Gulf, sunk after engaging 2 Japanese Destroyers.

US Navy Official Photo NavSource.org

Class: SS 198 Commissioned: 5/23/1941 Launched: 12/23/1940 Builder: Navy Yard Length: 307 , Beam: 27 #Officers: 6, #Enlisted: 54 Fate: In company with USS Grayback, Grampus departed Brisbane, on her 6th war patrol from which she failed to

NavSource.org return, the manner of her loss still remains a mystery today. 71 men lost.

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USS H-1 (SS-28)

Lost on March 12, 1920 with the loss of 4 men as they tried to swim to after grounding on a shoal off Santa Margarita Island, off the coast of Baja Lost on: , Mexico. Vestal (AR-4), pulled H-1 off the rocks in the morning of 24 March, only to have her sink 45 minutes later in some 50 feet of water. She was originally named the USS Seawolf before becoming H-1.

NavSource.org

US Navy Official Photo

Class: SS H Commissioned: 12/1/1913 Launched: 5/6/1913 Builder: Union Iron Works Length: 150 , Beam: 16 #Officers: 1, #Enlisted: 23 Fate: As H-1 made her way up the coast, the submarine went aground on a tricky shoal off Santa Margarita Island, CA. Four men, including the Commanding NavSource.org Officer, LCDR. James R. Webb, were killed as they tried to reach shore.

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USS Triton (SS-201)

Lost on March 15, 1943 with the loss of 74 men. She was sunk north of the Admiralty Islands during a fight with 3 Japanese Destroyers. Triton was the Lost on: 1st boat to engage the enemy in December 1941 off Wake Island, sinking 9 ships, 1 submarine and a .

US Navy Official Photo BC Patch

Class: SS 198 Commissioned: 8/15/1940 Launched: 3/25/1940 Builder: Portsmouth Navy Yard Length: 307 , Beam: 27 #Officers: 6, #Enlisted: 54 Fate: Triton was reported overdue and presumed lost with 74 men.

NavSource.org

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USS Kete (SS-369)

Lost on March 20, 1945 with the loss of 87 officers and men at the end of Lost on: her 2nd war patrol. Probably sunk near Okinawa, by a Japanese submarine that itself was subsequently lost.

US Navy Official Photo

NavSource.org

Class: SS 285 Commissioned: 7/31/1944 Launched: 4/9/1944 Builder: Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co Length: 312 , Beam: 27 #Officers: 10 , #Enlisted: 71 Fate: While steaming eastward, she sent in a weather report from a position south of Colnett Strait. Scheduled to arrive Midway by 31 March, she was

NavSource.org neither seen nor heard from again. 87 men lost.

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USS F-4 (SS-23)

Lost on March 25, 1915 with the loss of 21 men. She foundered 1.5 miles off of Honolulu when acid corrosion of the lead lining of the battery tank Lost on: let seawater into the battery compartment, causing loss of control. She was raised in August 1915.

NavSource.org

US Navy Official Photo

Class: SS F Commissioned: 5/3/1913 Launched: 1/6/1912 Builder: Seattle Construction & Drydock Co Length: 143 , Beam: 15 #Officers: 1, #Enlisted: 21 Fate: The remains of F-4 were buried as fill

in a trench off the Submarine Base, ,HI.

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USS Tullibee (SS-284)

Lost on March 26, 1944 with the loss of 79 officers and men, on her 4th war patrol. It's believed she was a victim of a circular run by one of her own Lost on: torpedoes. The lookout was the only survivor and he survived the war as a Japanese prisoner.

US Navy Official Photo

NavSource.org

Class: SS 212 Commissioned: 2/15/1943 Launched: 11/11/1942 Builder: Mare Island Navy Yard Length: 307 , Beam: 27 #Officers: 6, #Enlisted: 54 Fate: (Cont'd) About 2 minutes later, the submarine was rocked by a violent explosion. Apparently, one of Tullibee’s own torpedoes ran a circular course and

NavSource.org sank the submarine that had launched it. 79 men lost. 1 survived.

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USS Trigger (SS-237)

Lost on March 26, 1945 with the loss of 91 officers and men, on her 12th war patrol. She was lost during a combined attack by Japanese Lost on: antisubmarine vessels and aircraft. Trigger ranked 7th in total tonnage sunk and tied for 8th in number of ships sunk.

US Navy Official Photo

NavSource.org

Class: SS 237 Commissioned: 1/31/1942 Launched: 10/22/1941 Builder: Mare Island Navy Yard Length: 312 , Beam: 27 #Officers: 6, #Enlisted: 54 Fate: Postwar Japanese records showed a Japanese aircraft detected and bombed a submarine. Surface ships were then guided to the spot and

NavSource.org delivered an intensive depth charging. After two hours, a large oil slick appeared.

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Six U.S. Navy nested together, circa 1939-1941. Probably seen from Canopus (AS-9) in Bay, . The inboard submarine is not identified. The others are (from left to right): Pike (SS-173) ; Tarpon (SS- 175) ; Porpoise (SS-172) ; Perch (SS-176) and Permit (SS-178).

Source: http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08316.htm

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Brian Steffen

Vice CDR : D. W. Eggleston Jr. Vice CDR : Randy Browning Secretary : George “Scram” Kokolis Treasurer : J. P. Watson Chaplain : Bob Miller Chief of the Boat : Jim “Snake” Stark Webmaster : Mark Basnight Storekeeper : Ken Fuhr Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS) Chair : Don Van Borsch Events Chair : Allen “Buzz” Danielson Fund Raising Chair : Ted R. Schneeberg Liaison : D. W. Eggleston Committee Chair : Tom O’Brien Ship’s Photographer : Jim Null Bereavement Chair : Randy Browning Newsletter Editor : Randy Browning

Milt Berkey Kenneth Johnson Tom Paige James L. Charbonneau James N. Kirby Larry Peay Tracy R. Charbonneau Arnold Kirk Tommy Richardson Ronald Friend Ross Kline James P. Scott Julian Galloway John J. Krause Vince Seay Joseph E. Gawronski Harold R. Lane Leonard M. Snell Joseph L. Geiger Charles Mink John Solis Glenn E. Harris Bob Molchan L. E. Spradlin Stoney Hilton Mark Morgan Jerry Stout Michael Hoadley David Nates Thomas N. Thompson John Jeffries John Nesbitt Jeffro M. Wagner

Judy Cline Charlie MacKenzie

Medal of Honor Recipient, Holland Club, Plankowner, Past District Commander, Past Base Commander, Past Vice Commander, Past Junior Vice Commander, Past Secretary, Past Treasurer, Past Chaplain, Palmetto Base Hall of Fame, Palmetto Silver Star Award

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Gentlemen,

Good evening. With spring, comes all kinds of activities for us, parades, massing of the colors, Memorial Day preps, float construction and fourth of July. Any and all help is greatly appreciated, attendance and participation desired. I received my copy of FRA, NAUS and DAV magazines this week and stories appeared in each and every one concerning veteran suicide, veteran claims assistance and the morale of veterans. A lot of people are talking about it and NOTHING is happening. People talk about term limits in Congress and I say we, as registered voters, can ensure term limits and vote in someone who will take care of us!

I watched Fox News this morning and an interview was conducted on VA benefits and how difficult it is to obtain. They interviewed the Seals involved with Osama Bin Laden operation. And the seal found out after the fact that he could have received five years of medical and other benefits, however no one told him. In my opinion the VA hopes that no one will seek out their benefits. No one will apply and the ever shrinking VA budget avoids taking care of a veteran. With all attempts to balance the budget the DOD and elderly are the first destination for cuts. When the DOD has cuts, the VA falls under them and the veteran is who suffers, less doctors, less nurses, less medicines carried in the pharmacy, reduced hours due to the reduced staff. In my opinion, someone doesn’t wish to honor a promise once made, in that, if you serve your country, honorably, you will in turn be taken care of, by your country (yes, lots of controversy exist about the factuality of that statement).

Please, please, please make your wishes known to your elected officials, we are veterans and we are still here, and we “VOTE”.

Brian

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My final message as XO :

This month the election for the base XO and Secretary will be held. A new XO will be elected and I will make way for another brother of the “Phin”. We have several good candidates that have expressed an interest and I am aware of at least two that are planning on running. I understand that Larry Peay and Tom Paige are running. Others that are interested should get on the ballot. You do not have to wait for someone to nominate you. Let the Secretary know that you want to run by calling, emailing or at the March meeting prior to the election.

Last month’s newsletter outlined some of my past activities with the base and the Board of Directors will be determining which ones will need to be continued and they will be looking for some members to handle. Please look over the list and if you are interested in getting involved, let Commander Steffen know. Member interest and involvement makes for a stronger base. I will be available if I can help in any way regarding activity transition.

We have been considering a number of comments regarding our meeting place at O’Charlies. They removed the wall between our meeting room and the rest of the restaurant making it very difficult to hold a meeting and have speakers due to the noise level. The worst part is that Brandy is no longer employed at O’Charleys and the service is not what it should be.

Consequently we have been investigating several other places and the plan is to move our monthly meeting to Gilligans which has a great meeting room and other facilities. We are planning the move for our April meeting but will discuss further at the March meeting at O’Charleys.

I am not jumping ship and still want to be part of the Palmetto crew. I’m just moving from the XO’s stateroom in the forward battery to the after battery. (I’m not sure where you “atom smashers” keep ur officers or if you even have a forward and after battery compartment)

DW

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Mark Basnight Mark Morgan Milt Berkey Jim Null Randy Browning Tom Paige Allen “Buzz” Danielson Larry Peay D. W. Eggleston Tommy Richardson Ken Fuhr Ted R. Schneeberg Ev Fuhr John Solis Julian Galloway Jim “Snake” Stark Joseph E. Gawronski Brian Steffen Michael Hoadley Thomas N. Thompson George “Scram” Kokolis Don Van Borsch Bob Miller Jeffro M. Wagner Charles Mink J. P. Watson

• Call to Order : 1900 hours by the Base Commander. • Invocation : Base Chaplin. • Pledge of Allegiance: Base Commander. • The Tolling of the Boats : Vice Commander and COB. • Member Introduction : 25 members and 1 guest were present. . • Base Secretary’s Report: Approved as written in the newsletter. • Treasurer’s Report: $7,906.28: (Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS) $5,515.10, Float Fund $1,434.01, Operating Fund $957.27) was accepted and approved.

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• Base Chaplin informed the membership the Float Committee is looking for a fiberglass nose cone for our float submarine and is investigating the cost • Mark Morgan reminded the membership of about Stars 4 Our Troops which takes ‘torn and tattered’ American flags and appropriately recycles them to give the stars to veterans. He also said that if anybody has any worn out flags to get them him and he’ll get them to Stars 4 Our Troops to help further their cause.

• Junior Vice Commander informed the membership that contrary to many rumors and false information, Veterans Affairs Administration is exempt from sequestration • COB informed the membership of reserve component Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) issues • Events Chair informed the membership that our next parade is the Poultry Festival on the day before Mother's Day • Base Commander informed the membership that • that there is a new congressman and you're not allowed to write politicians but you can e-mail and called them • Base Comander reminded the membership of the Massing of the Colors at the Scottish Rite Temple in Columbia in April. • COB reminded the membership that if anybody would like a life membership in the National Rifle Association for $300, a significant reduction in the normal price, e-mail him. • Base Commander showed off the submarine lite house he just received from Lighthouses by Roland who donated one to the base as well. • Jeffro Wagner informed the membership that his son has joined the Navy • Junior Vice Commander thanked the membership for their thoughts and prayers during the recent tough time with his son he reminds us to laugh, learn something, teach somebody, and to share your heart. • Base Commander will be having surgery March 1st at the Veterans Affairs hospital • Base Chaplin will be conducting another scrap metal drive • Base Commander reminded the membership to help people that may be having difficulty with civilian life • Motion made and seconded to adjourn

• None

Benediction : Chaplin : $95.00 : COB (donated his half back to the base) Money Clip (Donated by John Solis) : COB

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Commander : Brian Steffen (803) 897-2480 [email protected] Vice Commander : D.W. Eggleston (803) 932-9390 [email protected] Junior Vice CDR .: Randy Browning (803) 808-7065 [email protected] Secretary : George Kokolis (803) 460-5882 [email protected] Treasurer : J. P. Watson (803) 361-4193 [email protected] COB : Jim Stark (803) 957-7153 [email protected] Chaplain : Bob Miller (803) 603-0538 [email protected] Bereavement: Randy Browning (803) 808-7065 [email protected] Holland Club : D.W. Eggleston (803) 932-9390 [email protected] Membership : D.W. Eggleston (803) 932-9390 [email protected] Newsletter : Randy Browning (803) 808-7065 [email protected] Storekeeper : Ken Fuhr (803) 413-3657 [email protected]

Randy Browning – March 21st Michael Hoadley – March 26th Ken Johnson – March 31st

Lyla Eggleston Evelyn Fuhr Julian Galloway Bob Miller’s daughter Don Van Borsch

“Rumors and false accusations are signs and symptoms of ignorance, neither of which should you condone or contribute to. Ignorance is a cancer that is all consuming and is Satan’s weapon of choice for divisiveness and destruction. One only has to look around this once great country to see how effectively he yields it. ” Randy Browning, YNC(SS), USN(Retired)

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Ron Friend

Ron served two terms in the Navy. He joined the first time in 1958 and left in 1967. He rejoined in 1974 and left in 1985 with a total of 21 years of service. Ron served in the enlisted ranks as a signalman (SM) during the first term achieving the rate of First Class (SM1(SS)). Ron’s second term was as a Data Processing Technician (DP). He retired in 1985 at the rate of DP1(SS).

Ron qualified on the USS Sterlet (SS-392) in 1961 and was on board from 1961-62. Ron also served on the USS William M. Wood (DDR-715) 1958-61 and USS Bashaw (SS/SSK/AGSS-241 (1962-64), USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640) 1964-67.

USS Sterlet (SS 392)

USS Sterlet (SS-392), a Balao -class submarine, was the only ship of the to be named for the sterlet, a small sturgeon found in the Caspian Sea and its rivers, whose meat is considered delicious and whose eggs are one of the world's great delicacies, caviar.

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Her keel was laid down on 14 July 1943 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. She was launched on 27 October 1943 sponsored by Mrs. Charles A. Plumley, and commissioned on 4 March 1944 with Commander O. C. Robbins in command.

Following fitting-out and shakedown training, Sterlet departed , , on 1 May to join the Pacific Fleet. The submarine reached Pearl Harbor on 13 June, and she immediately plunged into another round of training exercises to prepare for her first war patrol.

First War Patrol On 4 July 1944, she put to sea to prey on Japanese shipping. The patrol lasted 53 days; and Sterlet spent 34 of them in her assigned patrol area, the . By the time she put into Midway Island for refit on 26 August, the submarine was a battle-proven veteran, claiming to have sunk four enemy ships. She even brought in a prisoner—a survivor from a Japanese destroyed by American planes three weeks earlier.

Second War Patrol The submarine remained at Midway for just over three weeks; then headed for its patrol area in the Nansei Shoto on 18 September. After sinking a small Japanese fishing boat on 9 October, Sterlet rescued six downed airmen off Okinawa. On 18 October, she made an unsuccessful attempt to close and attack one of six destroyers escorting three . Two days later, she fired a spread of three torpedoes at a Japanese cargo ship, but all three missed. She made a third fruitless approach on 25 October and unleashed four torpedoes on small convoy. Results: four misses.

Not to be denied, Sterlet made another approach on the convoy. This time, four of the six fish she launched scored. Three hit a large gasoline tanker, and the fourth plowed into a freighter. The tanker, Jinei Maru , is known definitely to have gone down. Sterlet spent the remainder of the day evading the attacks of the escorts. That night, she allowed a hospital ship to pass unmolested. She attacked a small freighter with four torpedoes on 29 October, but had to surface and sink it with her . On 31 October, she made a night surface attack on a tanker previously damaged by Trigger (SS-237) and apparently sank it with a spread of six torpedoes. Sterlet then joined Trigger in escorting the damaged Salmon (SS-182) into .

From there, Sterlet put to sea on 10 November with six other submarines in a coordinated attack group. On the night of 15 November, she, Trigger , and Silversides (SS-236) engaged in a gun duel with an enemy sub chaser. Sterlet completely depleted her supply of five-inch (127 mm) shells in the battle and was forced to sink the enemy craft with torpedoes early the following morning. On 30 November, the submarine returned to the Submarine Base at Pearl Harbor.

Third War Patrol Following almost two months in , Sterlet embarked on her third war patrol on 25 January 1945. Her assigned area was off Honshū, Japan, particularly the area off Bay, where she stood lifeguard duty for Fifth Fleet pilots attacking Tokyo. She made reconnaissance sweeps of the Japanese Fleet and patrolled with a "" that also included Piper (SS-409),

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Pomfret (SS-391), Bowfin (SS-287), and Trepang (SS-412). During this cruise, she made two attacks, one each on 1 March and 5 March, and claimed two sinkings, a freighter and a tanker. She ended the war patrol at Midway on 4 April.

Fourth War Patrol Sterlet ’s fourth war patrol lasted from 29 April to 10 June and took her north of Japan to the Sea of Okhotsk and the vicinity of the Kuril Islands. On this cruise, her proximity to Soviet territory and the port of Vladivostok complicated her mission. Though Soviet ships were advised to remain out of the war zone around Japan, Sterlet had to be extremely vigilant in her identification of potential targets lest she send some of the United States's allies in the European war to a wet, chilly grave. Lack of certainty in identification forced the submarine to pass up several inviting targets. To further cloud the issue, Japanese ships probably attempted to disguise themselves as Soviets on several occasions to escape American submarines.

Sterlet , however, managed to emerge victorious over two enemy ships. In the late afternoon of 29 May, she encountered a large and a small freighter, escorted by three patrol . At 16:41, the submarine tried for a good setup, but failed due to the convoy's rapid change in course. She lost sound contact around 1720 and, 40 minutes later surfaced for a daylight end- around. At 1822, the lookouts sighted smoke; and, by 21:53, the submarine was in position to launch a night surface attack. She launched six torpedoes, three at each freighter. Two minutes later, one of the escorts peeled off and made for Sterlet . She immediately went right full rudder, all ahead at flank speed. In another two minutes, two torpedoes plowed into each of the two targets—four explosions within 20 seconds. At 22:05, the enemy began random depth charge attacks. Three minutes later, the smaller of the two targets sank by the stern.

At 22:11, Sterlet unleashed four "fish" at the pursuing escort. The setup was hasty at best. All four missed, and she prudently opened range to reload and prepare for another attack on the damaged freighter still afloat. As she approached, her quarry was dead in the water, down by the stern, and partially enveloped by smoke. Two of the escorts were thrashing about the surrounding waters, indiscriminately shooting and dropping depth charges. At 22:35, one of them passed between Sterlet and her victim. The submarine shifted her sights on him and, four minutes later, sent three torpedoes streaking at him. The frigate sighted the wakes, immediately turned into them, and rapidly closed on Sterlet . This pursuit forced Sterlet to retire; and, after more than an hour of running from the frigate and undergoing his bombardment, she managed to open range by firing four torpedoes "down the throat" at him. This tactic did not allow her to escape, and the chase continued until the frigate turned broadside to fire both his forward and after guns in salvo. That curious maneuver allowed Sterlet to open range to 8,000 yards (7,300 m) at which point, the enemy's radar wavered. Sterlet shut her radar down, came hard to starboard and opened out. A minute before midnight, Sterlet turned her radar back on. The screen was clear; she had escaped. The submarine had one more anxious moment during the patrol, when she encountered a Q- ship screened by a small escort. She launched six torpedoes at the "freighter," which disconcertingly turned and closed Sterlet . She succeeded in evading that aquatic chameleon and returned to Midway on 10 June.

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Fifth War Patrol Sterlet ’s final war patrol commenced on 5 July when she departed Midway for the vicinity of Kii Suido and Bungo Suido. Except for one occasion when she shelled oil storage tanks and a power plant near Shingu on Honshū, this whole patrol was given over to lifeguard duty for the crews of carrier planes and B-29 Superfortresses pummelling Japan. Sterlet rescued a New Zealander and a Briton, one well up in Kii Suido. The Japanese capitulation brought an end to the patrol, and Sterlet reached Midway on 23 August. On 6 September, she sailed for the United States and, ten days later, entered , California.

Post-War Activities Sterlet remained on the West Coast until the end of February 1946, at San Diego until 13 November and at San Francisco, California, thereafter. On 26 February 1946, she started back to the western Pacific and after briefly stopping at Pearl Harbor, , and Subic Bay, arrived in Tsingtao, China, on 20 April. She operated out of Tsingtao until the end of May, participating in the Navy's show of force along the northern China coast. She spent the first ten days of June in Shanghai and then got underway for Pearl.

Sterlet reached on 22 June and conducted operations in the Hawaiian Islands for the next 16 months. She headed west again on 15 November 1947 and reached Brisbane, Australia, on 1 December. Five days later, the submarine shaped a course for Guam, arriving there on 14 December. She departed Guam on 2 January 1948, stopped at Okinawa from 6 January to 10 January, and arrived in the Sasebo operating area on 12 January. For the rest of the month, she operated in the vicinity of Sasebo and Yokosuka, visiting both ports. On 28 January, she sailed for the California coast and, after a brief stop at Midway and a six-week layover in Pearl Harbor, reached San Francisco on 30 April. On 1 May, she reported to the Pacific Reserve Fleet for inactivation. She was placed out of commission, in reserve on 18 September 1948 and berthed at Mare Island, California.

Just under two years later, on 7 August 1950, Sterlet was ordered reactivated. She was recommissioned at Mare Island on 26 August 1950 with George W. Kittredge in command. On 25 September, she headed for San Diego where she conducted a month of training. In December, she shifted to Long Beach, California, where she became one of the stars in the motion picture Submarine Command with Bill Holden and William Bendix. Sterlet resumed operations along the West Coast early in 1951 and that employment continued until January 1953, when she was deployed to the Far East. On this cruise, she joined in hunter- killer exercises, visited Chichi Jima, Atami, Japan, and Buckner Bay, Okinawa; and conducted photographic reconnaissance on Marcus Island. She returned to San Diego, California, on 23 June and resumed West Coast operations.

In August 1954, Sterlet exchanged crews and homeports with Besugo (SS-321). On 13 September, she reported for duty to Submarine Squadron 1 at Pearl Harbor. For the remainder of her Navy career, Sterlet was home ported at Pearl Harbor. Between 1954 and 1968, she alternated operations in the Hawaiian Islands with nine deployments to the western Pacific with the Seventh Fleet. On these cruises, usually of approximately six months duration, she participated in a host of exercises and war game problems and visited most major ports in the Far East, particularly those in Japan, Taiwan, China and in some of the Central Pacific islands. 21

After her return from her final deployment in the summer of 1968, Sterlet was found to be unfit for further naval service. Accordingly, she was decommissioned on 30 September 1968, and her name was struck from the on the following day. She rendered her last service to the Navy on 31 January 1969 when she was sunk as a target by the nuclear-powered submarine USS Sargo (SSN-583).

Honors and awards Sterlet was awarded six battle stars for World War II service.

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An interesting trend concerning the development of a modern rating is the Hospital Corpsman. Early day Surgeons were assisted by the Surgeon's Mate. Surgeon's Mates were medical men, and like the Surgeon, were considered non-combatant civil officers. Actually, the Surgeon's Mate was a combination of Yeoman, Corpsman, and Leading Chief. He kept a journal of diseases and treatment, weighed and accounted for every article of medicine, dressed wounds and ulcers and performed blood-letting. He also supervised the orderlies and Loblolly Boys.

Loblolly Boys first appear in Navy records on the 1798 muster roll of USS Constitution . Loblolly actually was a thick gruel served to patients in sick bay, and was also a nautical term for medicine. This is perhaps how the boy who served it to the patients derived his unusual appellation. As the requirements of his job expanded, in 1839, the Navy established the Surgeon's Steward Rating, which in turn became Apothecary in 1866. Navy regulations of 1870 refer to the rating as Bayman (possibly sick-bay-man), and in 1898 it became Hospital Steward, in turn becoming Pharmacist's Mate in 1917 and to the present rating of Hospital Corpsman in 1948. So, from the Loblolly Boy of 1797 to the Hospital Corpsman of today represents a long and interesting trend in the development of a modern rating.

Source: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq78-1.htm

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March 1 1942 - U-656 becomes the first German submarine of World War II to be sunk by Naval air (VP-82). 1954 - 1st of 6 detonations, Operation Castle nuclear test. March 2 1859 - Launch of Saginaw at Mare Island, first Navy ship built on West Coast of U.S. 1867 - Birthday of Civil Engineer Corps. 1899 - Act of Congress creates the rank of the Navy for George Dewey. 1973 - Women begin pilot training to U.S. Navy. March 3 1776 - First amphibious landing operation. Continental naval squadron under Commodore Esek Hopkins lands Sailors and Marines, commanded by Captain Samuel Nicholas, on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, capturing urgently-needed ordnance and gunpowder. 1871 - Navy Medical Corps established 1883 - Congress authorizes 4 modern ships of steel, "A,B,C, D Ships"; three cruisers, Atlanta, Boston and Chicago, and dispatch boat Dolphin 1915 - Office of Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) established 1915 - Congress creates Federal Naval Reserve. Under it Naval Reserve Force built up 1960 – USS Sargo return to Hawaii from arctic cruise of 11,000 miles, 6,003 miles under the polar ice March 4 1911 - Appropriation of first funds for experiments in naval aviation. 1925 - Congress authorizes restoration of USS Constitution. 1947 - Operation Highjump, air operations in Antarctica, ends. 1963 - Navy Hercules aircraft completes 12-day rescue operation of critically ill Danish seaman from Danish freighter off the coast of Antarctic. March 5 1942 - Name "Seabees" and insignia officially authorized 1943 - USS Bogue begins first anti-submarine operations by escort carrier. 1960 - USS Newport News (CA-148) and personnel from Port Lyautey complete emergency relief operations at Agadir, Morocco after earthquake on 29 February. 24

March 6 1822 - USS Enterprise captures four pirate ships in Gulf of Mexico 1862 - USS departed New York for Hampton Roads, VA 1942 - U.S. Cruisers and destroyers bombard Vila and Munda, , sinking 2 Japanese destroyers March 7 1958 - Commissioning of USS Grayback, first submarine built from keel up with guided missile capability, to fire Regulus II missile. 1960 – USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) rescues 4 Russian soldiers from their landing craft 1,000 miles from Midway Island, which was drifting several weeks after their engine failed off Kamchatka Peninsula. 1966 - Department of Navy reorganized into present structure under CNO 1967 - PBRs assists Operation Overload II in Rung Sat Zone, Vietnam 1968 - Operation Coronado XII begins in Mekong Delta, Vietnam 1994 - Navy issues first orders to women assigned aboard combat ship, USS Eisenhower March 8 1854 - Commodore Matthew Perry opens treaty negotiations with Japan 1862 - Ironclad ram CSS Virginia destroys USS Cumberland and Congress 1945 - Phyllis Daley becomes first African-American Ensign, Navy Nurse Corps 1958 - Battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is decommissioned, leaving the Navy without an active battleship for the first time since 1895. 1965 - Seventh Fleet lands first major Marine units in South Vietnam at Danang March 9 1798 - Appointment of first surgeon U.S. Navy, George Balfour 1847 - Commodore David Connor leads successful amphibious assault near Vera Cruz, Mexico 1862 - First battle between ironclads, USS Monitor and CSS Virginia 1914 - Test of wind tunnel at Washington Navy Yard March 10 1783 - USS Alliance (CAPT John Barry) defeats HMS Sybil in final naval action of Revolution in waters 1933 - Pacific Fleet provides assistance after earthquake at Long Beach, CA 1945 - Navy and civilian nurses interned at Los Banos, Philippines flown back to U.S. Navy nurses awarded Bronze Star. 1948 - First use of jets assigned to operational squadron (VF-5A) on board a carrier (Boxer) March 11 1935 - Birth of Naval Security Group when OP-20G became the Communications Security Group 1941 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Lend-Lease Act 1942 - In a PT boat, LCDR John Bulkeley leaves the Philippines to take General Douglas MacArthur to Australia 1945 - Use of first Navy landing craft to cross Rhine River at Bad Neuenahr 1965 - Market Time patrols begin off South Vietnam coast March 12 1917 - All American merchant ships to be armed in war zones 1942 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt designates Admiral Ernest J. King to serve as the Chief of Naval Operations, as well as the Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet to which he

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was appointed on 30 December 1941. 1956 - In first overseas deployment of Navy missile squadron, VA-83 left on USS Intrepid

March 13 1895 - Award of first submarine building contract to John P. Holland Torpedo Boat Co. 1917 - Armed merchant ships authorized to take action against U-boats. 1959 - Naval Research Laboratory takes first ultraviolet pictures of sun. 1963 - USS Albany (CG-10) and aircraft from Navy Airborne Early Warning Squadron Four from Roosevelt Roads, aid five ill crewmembers of Norwegian freighter Jotunfjell. March 14 1863 - RADM Farragut's squadron of 7 ships forces way up Mississippi River to support Union troops at Vicksburg and Baton Rouge 1929 - NAS Pensacola aircraft make 113 flights for flood rescue and relief March 15 1943 - Numbered fleet system established 1947 - Ensign John W. Lee becomes first African American officer commissioned in regular Navy. He was assigned to USS Kearsage. 1957 - Airship ZPG-2 lands NAS Key West after 11 day non-stop flight across the Atlantic 1966 - Establishment of River Squadron Five in Vietnam March 16 1911 - Hulk of USS Maine sunk at sea in deep water with full military honors. 1945 - Iwo Jima declared secure. 1966 - Launch of Gemini 8. Former naval aviator Neil Armstrong flew on this mission which completed 7 orbits in 10 hours and 41 minutes at an altitude of 161.3 nautical miles. Recovery was by USS Leonard F. Mason (DD-852). March 17 1898 - USS Holland, first practical submarine, launched 1942 - United States Naval Forces Europe established to plan joint operations with British 1958 - Navy Vanguard rocket launches 3.25 pound sphere from Cape Canaveral 1959 - USS Skate (SSN-578) surfaces at North Pole March 18 1945 - Carriers begin 3 month Okinawa Campaign by destroying aircraft on Kyushu, Japan 1974 - Navy sent to sweep mines from Suez Canal March 19 1898 - USS Oregon departs San Francisco for 14,000 mile trip around South America to join U.S. Squadron off 1917 - Navy Department authorizes enrollment of women in Naval Reserve with ratings of Yeoman, Radio Electrician, or other essential ratings. 1942 - SecNav gave Civil Engineering Corps command of Seabees 2003 - Operation Iraqi Freedom begins with strikes from Navy ships and submarines. March 20 1833 - CDR Geisinger of Peacock negotiates first commercial treaty with King of Siam 1922 - USS Jupiter recommissioned as Langley, Navy's first aircraft carrier 1939 - Naval Research Lab recommends financing research program to obtain power from

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uranium. 2003 - U.S. began Operation Iraqi Freedom by launching cruise missiles from Navy ships in the Red Sea and . March 21 1917 - Loretta Walsh becomes first woman Navy petty officer when sworn in as Chief Yeoman. 1919 - Navy installs and tests Sperry gyrocompass, in first instance of test of aircraft gyrocompass 1945 - Bureau of Aeronautics initiates rocket-powered surface-to-air guided missile development by awarding contract to Fairchild March 22 1820 - Commodore Stephen Decatur dies after duel with Capt. James Barron 1915 - "Naval Aviator" replaces former "Navy Air Pilot" for officers qualified as aviators 1929 - Navy ships protect Americans and their property during Mexican revolution 1946 - USS Missouri departs U.S. to return body of deceased Turkish ambassador to the U.S. back to Turkey for burial. Missouri arrived in Istanbul on 5 April. March 23 1815 - USS Hornet captures HMS Penguin in battle lasting 22 minutes 1882 - SECNAV Hunt issues General Order No. 292 creating Office of Naval Intelligence. 1917 - Launching of USS , first dreadnought with turboelectric drive 1945 - Carriers begin pre-assault strikes on Okinawa, kamikaze attacks follow 1958 - First launching of simulated Polaris missile from submerged tactical launcher facility off CA. 1965 - LCDR John W. Young, USN, Pilot of Gemini 3 completed 3 orbits in 4 hours., 53 minutes at an altitude of 224 km. Recovery was by helicopters from USS Intrepid (CVS-11). March 24 1903 - George Dewey commissioned Admiral of the Navy with the date of rank, 2 March 1899. He was the only person to hold this rank. March 25 1813 - USS Essex takes Neryeda, first capture by U.S. Navy in Pacific 1898 - Assist. SECNAV Theodore Roosevelt proposes Navy investigate military application of Samuel Langley's flying machine, beginning naval aviation March 26 1942 - ADM King becomes both Chief of Naval Operations and Commander, U.S. Fleet 1943 - Battle of Komandorski Islands, prevents Japanese reinforcements from reaching Attu 1966 - Operation Jackstay in Navy's first amphibious assault in Vietnam's inland waters 1968 - Operation Bold Dragon III began in Mekong Delta March 27 1794 - Congress authorizes construction of 6 frigates, including Constitution 1799 - USS Constitution recaptures American sloop Neutrality from France 1880 - USS Constellation departs New York with food for famine victims in Ireland March 28 1800 - Essex becomes first U.S. Navy vessel to pass Cape of Good Hope 1814 - HMS Phoebe and Cherub capture USS Essex off Valparaiso, Chile. Before capture, Essex had captured 24 British prizes during the War of 1812. 1848 - USS Supply reaches the Bay of Acre, anchoring under Mount Carmel near the village of Haifa, during expedition to explore the Dead Sea and the River Jordan. 27

March 29 1954 - Carrier aircraft began reconnaissance near Dien Bien Phu, Indochina 1960 - Launch of first fully integrated Fleet Ballistic Missile from USS Observation Island 1973 - Naval Advisory Group and Naval forces, Vietnam disestablished and last U.S. prisoners of war left Vietnam. 1975 - Evacuation of Danang by sea began March 30 1944 - First use of torpedo squadrons from carriers to drop aerial mines ( Harbor) 1972 - Easter Offensive began in Vietnam March 31 1854 - Commodore Matthew Perry negotiates Treaty of Kanagawa to open trade between U.S. and Japan 1971 - Poseidon (C-3) missile becomes operational when USS James Madison began her 3rd patrol carrying 16 tactical Poseidon missiles. 1992 - USS Missouri (BB-63), the last active American battleship is decommissioned.

Source: http://www.history.navy.mil/wars/dates.htm

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March 1 1919 - PCU R-6 (SS-83) launched at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA; sponsored by Miss Katherine Langdon Hill. 1921 - PCU S-17 (SS-122) commissioned USS S-17 (SS-122) at Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, CT; Lt. Comdr. Charles S. Alden commanding. 1939 - PCU SQUALUS (SS-192) commissioned USS SQUALUS (SS-192) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME; Lt. O. F. Naquin commanding. PCU TAUTOG (SS-199) keel laid as TAUTOG at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1941 - PCU GRAYLING (SS-209) commissioned USS GRAYLING (SS-209) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH; Lt. Comdr. F. Olson commanding. PCU GRUNION (SS-216) keel laid as GRUNION at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1944 - PCU HAMMERHEAD (SS-364) commissioned USS HAMMERHEAD (SS-364) at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, WI; Comdr. J. C. Martin commanding. PCU SEA ROBIN (SS-407) keel laid as SEA ROBIN at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. PCU STICKLEBACK (SS-415) keel laid as STICKLEBACK at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA. 1945 - PCU CORSAIR (SS-435) keel laid as CORSAIR at the Electric boat Company, Groton, CT. 1960 - in the beginning of March USS TRITON (SSRN-586), while traveling down the Atlantic, sprung a severe leak around her starboard propeller shaft due to loose bolts and an improperly installed water seal. 1961 - USS SALMON (SSR-573) reclassified (SS-573). 1973 - Ex-SEA LEOPARD (SS-483) disposed of through the Security Assistance Program (SAP), transferred to Brazil. 1982 - in early January, USS ROBERT E. LEE (SSBN-601) left Pearl Harbor, HI and headed for the explosive handling wharf at Bangor, WA. On February 28, 1982 her A3 missiles were off loaded, officially ending the U.S. Navy's Polaris program after 21 years. She was redesignated SSN-601 this day and operated on the U.S. West Coast as a fast attack submarine with a consolidated crew for the next year. 1994 - USS BATON ROUGE (SSN-689) reported a collision with a Russian Serria class diesel submarine off Murmansk. 2004 - USS GEORGIA (SSBN-729) hull reclassed to SSGN. March 2 1942 - PCU KINGFISH (SS-234) launched at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH; sponsored by Mrs. Harry A. Stuart, wife of Rear Admiral Stuart. 1944 - PCU CHOPPER (SS-342) keel laid as CHOPPER at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.

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1945 - PCU SEA LEOPARD (SS-483) launched at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME; sponsored by Hon. Margaret Chase Smith, United States Congresswoman from Maine. 1946 - USS TUNA (SS-203) arrived at Pearl Harbor and reported for duty with Commander, Joint Task Force 1. 1949 - USS PERCH (SS-313) collided with USS Orleck (DD-886) off San Diego, CA. 1951 - PCU K-1 (SSK-1) (later-BARRACUDA) (SST-3) launched at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT; sponsored by Mrs. Willis Manning Thomas. 1964 - PCU GEORGE C. MARSHALL (SSBN-654) keel laid as GEORGE C. MARSHALL at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA. 1987 - PCU PENNSYLVANIA (SSBN-735) keel laid as PENNSYLVANIA at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. 1990 - PCU HAMPTON (SSN-767) keel laid as HAMPTON at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA. 2005 - USS JEFFERSON CITY (SSN-759) returned from a training exercise through the mouth of San Diego Bay, CA. JEFFERSON CITY is assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron Eleven and is commanded by Cmdr. Daryl Caudle. March 3 1895 - John P. Holland took a leaf from the Nordenfeldt playbook – in this case, good public relations to overcome political intransigence – and let it be known that he was entertaining offers from foreign navies. On March 3, the John P. Holland Torpedo Boat Company was awarded $200,000 to build an 85-foot, 15 knot, steam-powered submarine to be called "Plunger". Holland was only somewhat pleased – he didn't like the imposition of a steam engine, as well some changes the Navy insisted upon: the Navy knew what it wanted, but didn't know what it was doing. Congress was thrilled, and immediately authorized two more submarines of the Plunger type at $175,000 each. 1942 - USS PERCH (SS-176) and LCDR D. A. Hurt surfaced thirty miles northwest of Soerabaja, Java, N.E.I. on the evening of 1 March 1942 and started in for an attack on the enemy convoy that was landing troops to the west of Soerabaja. Two enemy destroyers attacked and drove her down with a string of depth charges which caused her to bottom at 135 feet. Several more depth charge attacks caused extensive damage, putting the starboard motors out of commission and causing extensive flooding throughout the boat. After repairs, PERCH surfaced at two o'clock in the morning only to be again driven down by the enemy destroyers. The loss of oil and air from damaged ballast tanks convinced the enemy that PERCH was breaking up and they went on to look for other kills, allowing PERCH to surface. The crew made all possible repairs with the submarine's decks awash and only one engine in commission. During the early morning of 3 March, a test dive was made with almost fatal results. Expert handling and good luck enabled her to surface from that dive only to be attacked by two enemy cruisers and three destroyers. When the enemy shells commenced to straddle, the commanding officer ordered all hands on deck. With all possible hull openings open, PERCH made her last dive and ended her second patrol. The entire crew was captured by a Japanese destroyer. Of the fifty-four men and five officers only six, who died of malnutrition in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps, were unable to return to their country to enjoy the victory for which they had fought so valiantly. She was the fifth U.S. submarine loss of World War II. 60 crew were taken POW, 6 men later died as POWs but none were lost with PERCH that day. PERCH received one battle star for World War II service. 30

1943 - PCU GUAVINA (SS-362) keel laid as GUAVINA at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, WI. 1945 - USS BARRACUDA (SS-163) second decommissioning at Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA. USS BONITA (SS-165) second decommissioning at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA. 1967 - PCU STURGEON (SSN-637) commissioned USS STURGEON (SSN-637) at General Dynamics Corporation, Quincy, MA; Lt. Comdr. Curtis B. Shellman, Jr. commanding. She was the lead boat of a 37 unit class which introduced General Dynamics to submarine construction. 1979 - PCU (SSN-696) commissioned USS NEW YORK CITY (SSN-696) at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. 1980 - USS NAUTILUS (SSN-571) decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register at Mare Island Naval , Vallejo, CA. Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet and retained by the Navy as a museum. 1984 - PCU NEWPORT NEWS (SSN-750) keel laid as NEWPORT NEWS at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA. March 4 1908 - PCU STINGRAY (later C-2) (SS-13) keel laid as STINGRAY at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1917 - the Appropriations Act of 1917 added eighteen more boats to the submarine construction program. The Navy used resources from the Naval Emergency Fund for twenty more. 1918 - PCU R-8 (SS-85) keel laid as R-8 at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1943 - PCU CAVALLA (SS-244) keel laid as CAVALLA at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. PCU SKATE (SS-305) launched at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA; sponsored by Mrs. George P. Shamer. 1944 - PCU STERLET (SS-392) commissioned USS STERLET (SS-392) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME; Comdr. O. C. Robbbins commanding. 1946 - PCU AMBERJACK (SS-522) commissioned USS AMBERJACK (SS-522) at Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA; Comdr. William B. Parham commanding. 1966 - USS CAPITAINE (SS-336) second decommissioning in preparation for being loaned to Italy. 2002 - USS BOISE (SSN-764) led the fast combat support ship USS Seattle (AOE-3) and the guided missile USS Hue City (CG-66) as the ships of USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) Battle Group transited the Suez Canal. The Kennedy battle group rendezvoused with USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) to relieve "TR" in supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. 2005 - Rear Adm. Paul Sullivan, Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, HI, presented the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) to Cmdr. Brian Howes, commanding officer of USS LA JOLLA (SSN-701). The Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation was instituted in 1967 and is awarded to Navy/Marine Corps units for valorous actions or meritorious achievement (combat or non-combat). Cmdr. Matthew A. Weingart relieved Cmdr. Frederick J. Capria as commanding officer of the fast-attack submarine USS NEWPORT NEWS (SSN-750) in a ceremony at Pier 3, , VA.

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March 5 1912 - the Secretary of the Navy established the Atlantic Submarine Flotilla, commanded by LT Chester W. Nimitz. 1919 - PCU S-40 (SS-145) keel laid as S-40 at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, CA. 1943 - USS GRAMPUS (SS-207) was ordered on 20 February to patrol north of 4°30‘S until dawn on 21 February and then to patrol east of Buka and Bouganville. On 2 March she was told to round Cape Henpan, proceed down the west coast of Bouganville, south of Treasury Island, north of Vella Lavella and into Vella Gulf on the afternoon of 5 March. She was to sink enemy ships trying to pass westward through Blackett Strait in attempting to escape our surface ships scheduled to bombard Vila and Stanmore airstrip on 6 March. USS GRAYBACK (SS-208) was teamed with GRAMPUS in the above operation, and each was informed of the other’s assignment. The evening of 5 March, GRAYBACK and GRAMPUS were warned that two destroyers were proceeding from Faisi (off southeastern Bouganville) toward Wilson Strait (between Vella Lavella and Ganogga). These destroyers later went through Blackett Strait into Kula Gulf, where they sere sunk by our surface forces, but GRAYBACK did not report having seen or heard them. Shortly after the report concerning these destroyers was sent, GRAYBACK heard and saw a ship in the part of Vella Gulf assigned to GRAMPUS, and, assuming it was she, maneuvered to avoid. She was unable to track it or exchange recognition signals by radar, since her SJ radar was not functioning. When GRAMPUS made no radio transmission up to 6-7 March, she was ordered by ComTaskFor 72 on 7 March to do so. No transmission was received, and on 8 March she was ordered again to make one, again without results. She was reported lost on 22 March, 1943. Any further discussion about her demise is pure conjecture. She was the eleventh U.S. submarine loss of World War II. Seventy-one men were lost with GRAMPUS that day. GRAMPUS received three battle stars for World War II service. Her first, fourth, and fifth war patrols were designated successful. 1945 - PCU REMORA (SS-487) keel laid as REMORA at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. 1962 - PCU JAMES MADISON (SSBN-627) keel laid as JAMES MADISON at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA. March 6 1916 - PCU O-11 (SS-72) keel laid as O-11 at Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, CT. PCU O-12 (SS-73) keel laid as O-12 at Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, CT. PCU O-13 (SS-74) keel laid as O-13 at Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, CT. 1918 - PCU R-9 (SS-86) keel laid as R-9 at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1920 - PCU S-5 (SS-110) commissioned USS S-5 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME; Lt. Comdr. Charles M. Cooke, Jr. commanding. 1932 - PCU DOLPHIN (SS-169) launched at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME; sponsored by Mrs. E. D. Toland. 1942 - PCU AMBERJACK (SS-219) launched at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT; sponsored by Mrs. Randall Jacobs, wife of Rear Admiral Jacobs, the head of the Bureau of Personnel. PCU SCAMP (SS-277) keel laid as SCAMP at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. 1944 - PCU DRAGONET (SS-293) commissioned USS DRAGONET (SS-293) at Cramp Shipbuilding Company, Philadelphia, PA; Commander J. H. Lewis commanding. PCU ATULE (SS-403) launched at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME; sponsored by Miss 32

Elizabeth Louise Kauffman, the daughter of Rear Admiral James Lawrence Kauffman. 1953 - USS TUNNY (SS-282) was placed in commission for the third time. Converted to carry guided missiles, she was reclassified (SSG-282) and served as a Regulus-missile submarine for nearly 12 years. USS MENHADEN (SS-377) recommissioned; Lt. Comdr. William R. Werner commanding. 1962 - PCU SAM HOUSTON (SSBN-609) commissioned USS SAM HOUSTON (SSBN-609) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA; Capt. W. P. Willis, Jr. (BLUE) commanding. 1982 - PCU ATLANTA (SSN-712) commissioned USS ATLANTA (SSN-712) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA; Comdr. Robin J. White commanding. 1995 - Ex-SKATE (SSN-578) disposition complete by Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. 1998 - Ex-THOMAS JEFFERSON (SSBN/SSN-618) disposition complete by Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. March 7 1943 - PCU BONEFISH (SS-223) launched at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT; sponsored by Mrs. F. A. Daubin, wife of Rear Admiral Daubin. 1958 - PCU GRAYBACK (SSG-574) commissioned USS GRAYBACK (SSG-574) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA; Lt. Comdr. Hugh G. Nott commanding. 1979 - USS ALEXANDER HAMILTON (SSBN-617) became tangled in the nets of a Scottish fishing trawler in the sound of Jura off the west coast of Scotland. ALEXANDER HAMILTON towed the trawler backward for about 45 minutes until the nets were cut. No injuries or serious damage resulted. 1979 - USS PARGO (SSN-650) grounded while entering New London, CT harbor. March 8 1920 - PCU S-15 (SS-120) launched at Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, CT; sponsored by Mrs. Simon Lake. 1944 - PCU SEALION (SS-315) commissioned USS SEALION (SS-315) at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT; Lt. Comdr. Eli T. Reich commanding. PCU SENNET (SS-408) keel laid as SENNET at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. 1996 - Ex-PLUNGER (SSN-595) disposition complete by Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. 1997 - USS BREMERTON (SSN-698) executed an emergency ascent demonstration for senior Chinese officers onboard USS Port Royal (CG-73) in the Pacific Ocean near Pearl Harbor, HI. The Chinese officers were given an underway tour of Port Royal a day before the arrival of three Chinese ships to Pearl Harbor, the first such visit to a U.S. port in eight years. March 9 1912 - USS USS C-4 (ex-BONITA) (SS-15) collided with USS E-2 (ex-STURGEON) (SS-25) at . 1942 - USS R-17 (SS-94) decommissioned and transferred to Great Britain; renamed HMS P512. USS R-19 (SS-96) decommissioned and transferred to Great Britain; renamed HMS P514. 1944 - PCU SPADEFISH (SS-411) commissioned USS SPADEFISH (SS-411) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA; Comdr. G. W. Underwood commanding. 33

1962 - USS CREVALLE (SS-291) third and final decommisssioning. 1983 - PCU ALASKA (SSBN-732) keel laid as ALASKA at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. 1995 - USS MARIANO G. VALLEJO (SSBN-658) decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register. 2006 - the fast-attack submarine USS SCRANTON (SSN-756) successfully demonstrated homing and docking of an Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) system during at-sea testing in January 2006. The two UUVs used in the testing are a part of the AN/BLQ-11 Long Term Mine Reconnaissance System (LMRS), which was designed to enable submarines to conduct clandestine undersea surveys to locate mines. Repeated homing tests were conducted with slightly different configurations to assess the ability of a UUV to dock with a torpedo-tube-mounted recovery system. The final result was the first successful docking of the LMRS vehicle to a submerged submarine at-sea. After the UUV is launched from the submarine’s torpedo tube, it transits to a series of pre-programmed waypoints. Meanwhile, the submarine maneuvers to rendezvous with the UUV. Homing and Docking guides the UUV towards the recovery arm, a unique docking mechanism that extends out of the ship’s upper torpedo tube. After the UUV is captured, the recovery arm guides the UUV into the lower torpedo tube, and back into the submarine. PCU NORTH CAROLINA (SSN-777) was under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News, VA shipyard. NORTH CAROLINA is the fourth Virginia-Class submarine and is scheduled to join the fleet in 2008. March 10 1943 - PCU TILEFISH (SS-307) keel laid as TILEFISH at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA. USS APOGON (SS-308) launched at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME; sponsored by Mrs. Thomas Withers, the wife of Admiral Withers. 1954 - PCU SALMON (SSR-573) keel laid as SALMON at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME. 1962 - USS TIGRONE (SS-419) second commissioning after redesignation to (SS-419). She then underwent overhaul and conversion at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. PCU THOMAS A. EDISON (SSBN-610) commissioned USS THOMAS A. EDISON (SSBN-610) at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT; Capt. Charles M. Young (BLUE) and Capt. Walter Dedrick (GOLD) commanding. 1984 - PCU MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL (SSN-708) commissioned USS MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL (SSN- 708) at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. March 11 1898 - PCU HOLLAND (HOLLAND VI) (SS-1) began sea trials. 1937 - PCU POMPANO (SS-181) launched at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA; sponsored by Mrs. Isaac I. Yates. 1943 - PCU BARBEL (SS-316) keel laid as BARBEL at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1944 - PCU QUEENFISH (SS-393) commissioned USS QUEENFISH (SS-393) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME; Lt. Comdr. C. E. Loughlin commanding. 1957 - USS ALBACORE (AGSS-569) was underway off Newport and the Naval War College, RI. 1961 - USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (SSBN-602) commissioned USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (SSBN-602) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME; Comdr. Leonard Erb (BLUE) and Comdr. Donald M. Miller (GOLD) commanding. 1963 - USS TORO (SS-422) decommissioned at the Atlantic Reserve Fleet Philadelphia Group after demilitarization and non-industrial stripping there. 34

1978 - PCU OMAHA (SSN-692) commissioned USS OMAHA (SSN-692) at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. 2004 - USS ALBANY (SSN-753) paid Souda Bay Harbor, Crete, Greece a brief port visit. ALBANY was homeported in Norfolk, VA., and is the third improved Los Angles-class attack submarine. The improved submarines are quieter, faster, have hull diving planes, improved fire control systems and ice breaking capable for polar operations. March 12 1910 - PCU SALMON (later D-3) (SS-19) launched at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1920 - USS H-1 (ex-SEAWOLF) (SS-28) lost with 4 men (including the commanding officer, Lt. Comdr. James R. Webb) after running aground at the entrance to Magdalena Bay, Mexico (off Santa Margarita Island) and sinking in 9 fathoms of water while being towed off. Salvage was abandoned. 1936 - PCU TARPON (SS-175) commissioned USS TARPON (SS-175) at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1943 - PCU SANDLANCE (SS-381) keel laid as SANDLANCE at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. 1944 - PCU BLACKFIN (SS-322) launched at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. PCU JALLAO (SS-368) launched at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, WI. 1945 - Ex-BASS (ex-V2/SF-5) (SS-164) scuttled as a sonar target southeast of Block Island in 155' of water. 1971 - PCU BILLFISH (SSN-676) commissioned USS BILLFISH (SSN-676) at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. 1998 - USS OHIO (BLUE) (SSBN-726) manuevered through Hood Canal Bridge as she returned to her homeport in Bangor, WA. Ohio was the first Trident submarine to tally 50 strategic patrols. 2004 - PCU VIRGINIA (SSN-774) successfully completed a test of her torpedo tubes at General Dynamics Electric Boat Division's shipyard, Groton, CT, firing a dozen dummy torpedoes into the Thames River. The two-day evolution brought the submarine, the first in a new class of fast-attack boats, closer to her sea trials, which were slated for the spring. To conduct the torpedo tube testing, Electric Boat and U.S. Navy personnel fired three of the dummy torpedoes, or “shapes,” from each of the submarine’s four tubes. VIRGINIA Prospective Commanding Officer Capt. Dave Kern, who stood dockside for the firing of the first shape, said the test was a big step forward for the submarine. “The whole reason for the ship’s existence is for us to be able to use the weapon systems if called upon,” he said. “So it’s a great milestone to see the torpedo tubes in action.” In addition to torpedoes, the Virginia-class will be armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and has been designed to host the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) and Dry-Deck Shelter to support various missions. Furthermore, the Virginia-class will dominate both the open ocean and littorals while undertaking a wide range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, special operations, Information, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), and mine warfare. The Virginia class is built jointly by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, CT., and Northrop Grumman Newport News in Newport News, VA. VIRGINIA’s commissioning was scheduled for later that year at Norfolk Naval Base, VA. March 13 1916 - USS E-2 (ex-STURGEON) (SS-25) decommissioned at New York Navy Yard, New York, NY; 35

used as a laboratory for exhaustive tests of the Edison storage battery. 1968 - PCU BLUEFISH (SSN-675) keel laid as BLUEFISH at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. 1982 - PCU ALBUQUERQUE (SSN-706) launched at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics, Groton, CT. 1986 - USS NATHANAEL GREENE (SSBN-636) ran aground in the Irish Sea, suffering external damage to her ballast tanks and rudder. A spokesman for the U.S. Navy said "There was no effect on the propulsion, no injuries and no damage to the Poseidon nuclear missiles." The submarine initially sailed to Holy Loch, Scotland, under her own power for emergency repairs. She left Scotland on 25 April and traveled submerged to Charleston, SC. The extent of the damage subsequently lead to a decision to decommission the vessel, partly in order to satisfy SALT II limitations. USS ATLANTA (SSN-712) ran aground entering the Mediterranean through the Straits of Gibraltar. 1993 - PCU MONTPELIER (SSN-765) commissioned USS MONTPELIER (SSN-765) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA. 2004 - the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and USS TOLEDO (SSN-769) operated together in the Atlantic Ocean. Roosevelt was part of the USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and was taking part in a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), which is an intermediate level training exercise, designed to forge ships in the Kennedy CSG into a cohesive fighting team. March 14 1914 - PCU K-3 (ex-ORCA) (SS-34) launched at Union Iron Works, San Francisco, CA 1942 - PCU HADDOCK (SS-231) commissioned USS HADDOCK (SS-231) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME. PCU WHALE (SS-239) launched at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA. 1944 - PCU LIZARDFISH (SS-373) keel laid as LIZARDFISH at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, WI. 1960 - PCU POLLACK (SSN-603) keel laid as POLLACK at New York Shipbuilding Company, Camden, NJ. 1996 - Ex-BARB (SSN-596) disposition complete by Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. 2003 - USS BREMERTON (SSN-698) departed her homeport of San Diego, CA for a western Pacific deployment. The Los Angeles-class attack submarine is a multi-mission stealth platform, covertly projecting power ashore by inserting Special Operations Forces, conducting surveillance, and collecting intelligence while providing a flexible forward presence in support of U.S. interests. 2005 - USS LOUISVILLE (SSN-724) was underway off the coast of southern California. LOUISVILLE was conducting a Joint Task Force Training Exercise (JTFEX) with Carrier Strike Group Eleven (CSG-11). 2006 - Capt. Kenneth R. Sault turned over command of the Pearl Harbor-based USS KEY WEST (SSN-722) to Cmdr. Thomas E. Ishee in a change of command ceremony. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Ishee served on USS NARWHAL (SSN-671), USS SEA DEVIL (SSN- 664), USS TUNNY (SSN-682) and USS LA JOLLA (SSN-701). KEY WEST was commissioned in 1987 and participated in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. March 15 36

1915 - PCU L-3 (SS-42) launched at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1920 - PCU S-50 (SS-161) keel laid as S-50 at Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, CT. 1930 - PCU NAUTILUS/V-6 (SS-168) launched at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA. 1938 - PCU SALMON (SS-182) commissioned USS SALMON (SS-182) at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. PCU STINGRAY (SS-186) commissioned USS STINGRAY (SS-186) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH. PCU STURGEON (SS-187) launched at Navy Yard, Mare Island, CA; sponsored by Mrs. Charles S. Freeman. 1943 - USS TRITON (SS-201) was the fourth of our submarines lost in the Solomons-Bismarck area in the early part of 1943; TRITON left Brisbane on 16 February 1943 to begin her sixth patrol in that area. She hunted for traffic between Rabaul and Shortland Basin on her way north, and began to patrol the equator on 23 February. The last word received from TRITON came on 11 March 1943 when she reported, “Two groups of smokes, 5 or more ships each, plus escorts…Am chasing.” She was ordered to stay south of the Equator, and was informed of the area (an adjacent one) assigned to TRIGGER. On the morning of 13 March TRITON was told that three enemy destroyers had been sighted southeast on a northerly course. She was informed that they were probably on a submarine hunt or were a convoy cover and had missed contact. TRITON, on 16 March, was ordered to change her area slightly to the east. TUNA and GREENLING were placed in adjacent areas (to the south and west, respectively) on 22 March, and all were to disregard areas when on the chase, and to avoid when encountering a submarine. TRITON was told to clear her area on 25 March 1943, and return to Brisbane. When she failed to make her report of position, new results and estimated time of arrival when it was expected, she was ordered to do so. No report was received and she was reported as lost on 10 April 1943. Information available after the war shows that TRITON was, without a doubt, sunk by the enemy destroyers of which she was given information on 13 March. Enemy reports show that these ships made an attack on 15 March. Their position was slightly north and west of TRITON’s area, but she undoubtedly left her area to attack the destroyers or the convoy they were escorting. The report of the attack by the destroyers leaves little doubt as to whether a kill was made, since they saw “a great quantity of oil, pieces of wood, corks and manufactured goods bearing the mark "Made in U.S.A." Seventy-four men were lost with TRITON that day. She was the twelfth U.S. submarine loss of World War II. PCU MUSKALLUNGE (SS-262) commissioned USS MUSKALLUNGE (SS-262) at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. PCU PICUDA (SS-382) keel laid as PICUDA at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH. PCU PAMPANITO (SS-383) keel laid as PAMPANITO at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH. 1944 - PCU PIPER (SS-409) keel laid as PIPER at the U.S. Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH. 1952 - PCU ALBACORE (SS-569) keel laid as ALBACORE at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, NH. 1960 - PCU THOMAS A. EDISON (SSBN-610) keel laid as THOMAS A. EDISON at Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. 1963 - PCU JAMES MADISON (SSBN-627) launched at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA. 37

1967 - PCU TAUTOG (SSN-639) launched at Ingalls Shipbuilding Company, Pascagoula, MS and sponsored by Mrs. Albert Gore. 1969 - PCU SUNFISH (SSN-649) commissioned USS SUNFISH (SSN-649) at General Dynamics Corporation, Quincy, MA. 1986 - PCU NEWPORT NEWS (SSN-750) launched at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA. 2004 - work continued on the strategic missile submarine USS OHIO (SSGN-726) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Bremerton, WA. OHIO was one of four Trident submarines undergoing conversion to a new class of guided missile submarines. The SSGN conversion program takes Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines through an extensive overhaul that will improve their capability to support and launch up to 154 Tomahawk missiles. They will also provide the capability to carry other payloads, such as unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Special Forces equipment. This new platform will also have the capability to carry and support more than 66 Navy SEALs (Sea, Air and Land) and insert them clandestinely into potential conflict areas. March 16 1916 - PCU L-10 (SS-50) launched at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1920 - USS N-5 (SS-57) collided with freight lighter Laredo near Navy Pier, New York. 1944 - PCU CLAMAGORE (SS-343) keel laid as CLAMAGORE at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1960 - PCU SHARK (SSN-591) launched at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA. March 17 1897 - PCU HOLLAND (HOLLAND VI) (SS-1) launched at Crescent , Elizabethport, N.J. 1898 - after surface trials and a 30-minute static submergence, PCU HOLLAND (HOLLAND VI) (SS-1)'s first dive underway was made - St. Patrick's Day, fittingly enough, given John P. Holland's Irish Republican background - in the waters off Staten Island, New York. 1908 - PCU TARPON (later C-3) (SS-14) keel laid as TARPON at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. PCU BONITA (later C-4) (SS-15) keel laid as BONITA at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. PCU SNAPPER (later C-5) (SS-16) keel laid as SNAPPER at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1914 - PCU K-1 (ex-HADDOCK) (SS-32) commissioned USS K-1 at the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA, Lt. (j.g.) E. F. Cutts in command. PCU K-5 (SS-36) launched at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1928 - USS S-4 (SS-109) salvaged after being rammed by USCG Paulding on December 17, 1927; towed to the Boston Navy Yard for dry-docking. 1937 - PCU PERMIT (SS-178) commissioned USS PERMIT (SS-178) at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1943 - PCU COBIA (SS-245) keel laid as COBIA at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. PCU POMPON (SS-267) commissioned USS POMPON (SS-267) at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI. 1945 - PCU CUTLASS (SS-478) commissioned USS CUTLASS (SS-478) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. 38

1959 - USS SKATE (SSN-578) surfaced at the North Pole after completing a historic under-ice voyage to reach her destination. She also commited the ashes of the famed explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins to the Arctic waste. When the submarine returned to port, she was awarded a bronze star in lieu of a second Navy Unit Commendation for demonstrating ". . . for the first time the ability of submarines to operate in and under the Arctic ice in the dead of winter . . ." 1962 - PCU POLLACK (SSN-603) launched at New York Shipbuilding Company, Camden, NJ. 2006 - USS COLUMBIA (SSN-771) returned to her homeport of Pearl Harbor, HI. She departed Pearl Harbor on September 17, 2005. During the deployment, the ship’s crew visited Stirling, Australia; Yokosuka, Japan; Chinhae, Republic of ; Singapore, and Guam. COLUMBIA is the 60th submarine of the Los Angeles class and is the 33rd ship of that class built by General Dynamics Electric Boat Division. March 18 1918 - PCU R-11 (SS-88) keel laid as R-11 at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1925 - USS S-19 (SS-124) grounded on Nauset Beach near Orleans, MA. 1944 - PCU THREADFIN (SS-410) keel laid as THREADFIN at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. 1946 - PCU DIODON (SS-349) commissioned USS DIODON (SS-349) at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1948 - USS THRESHER (SS-200) sold for scrapping to Max Siegel of Everett, MA. 1953 - USS CROAKER (SS-246) second decommissioning at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, NH for conversion to a Hunter-Killer Submarine. 1960 - USS MAPIRO (SS-376) transferred (lease) to the Republic of Turkey under the Military Assistance Program after modification to GUPPY configuration. 1968 - USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (SSBN-600) ran aground while submerged off the coast of Scotland. There were no injuries, but the bow of the submarine was damaged. March 19 1912 - PCU F-2 (ex-BARRACUDA) (SS-21) launched at Union Iron Works, San Francisco, CA. 1913 - USS D-3 (ex-SALMON) (SS-19) collided with Mohawk . 1914 - PCU K-4 (ex-WALRUS) (SS-35) launched at Seattle Construction & Drydock Company, Seattle, WA. PCU L-2 (SS-41) keel laid as L-2 at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1918 - PCU S-16 (SS-121) keel laid as S-16 at Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, CT. PCU S-17 (SS-122) keel laid as S-17 at Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, CT. 1928 - USS S-4 (SS-109) decommissioned at Boston Navy Yard, after being salvaged on 17 March. 1945 - PCU CATFISH (SS-339) commissioned USS CATFISH (SS-339) at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1954 - USS COBIA (SS-245) second decommissioning at New London, CT; laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. 1983 - PCU MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL (SSN-708) launched at Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. 1994 - PCU TUCSON (SSN-770) launched at Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company, Newport News, VA. March 20 1907 - future Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz returned to the U. S. in 1907 and was ordered to duty under instruction in submarines, the branch of the service in which he 39

spent a large part of his sea duty. His first submarine was USS PLUNGER (later A-1) (SS-2). He successively commanded USS SNAPPER (later C-5) (SS-16), USS NARWHAL (later D-1) (SS-17) and USS E-1 (ex-SKIPJACK) (SS-24) until 1912. On 20 March of that year, Nimitz, then a Lieutenant, and commanding officer of the submarine E-1 (ex-SKIPJACK), was awarded the Silver Lifesaving Medal by the Treasury Department for his heroic action in saving W.J. Walsh, Fireman second class, USN, from drowning. A strong tide was running and Walsh, who could not swim, was rapidly being swept away from his ship. Lieutenant Nimitz dove in the water and kept Walsh afloat until both were picked up by a small boat. 1909 - USS F-1 (ex-CARP) (SS-20) gasoline explosion in drydock. 1942 - PCU GROWLER (SS-215) commissioned USS GROWLER (SS-215) at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. PCU SCORPION (SS-278) keel laid as SCORPION at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. 1945 - USS LANCETFISH (SS-296) sunk alongside Boston Navy Yard pier when torpedo tube flood valve left open. departing Guam on March 1, 1945, USS KETE (SS-369) and Lt. Cmdr. Edward Ackerman headed for her second patrol in the vicinity of the Nansei Shoto (island chain). In addition to performing a normal patrol, KETE had orders to submit special weather reports, and to carry out rescue service during an air strike by carrier based planes. On the night of March 10, 1945, KETE reported having sunk three medium sized freighters on the previous night. She reported on the night of March 14th that she had fired four torpedoes which missed a small enemy cable laying vessel, and that she had only three torpedoes remaining aboard. In view of the small number of torpedoes left, KETE was directed to depart her area on March 20th, and proceed to Pearl Harbor for refit, stopping at Midway en route for fuel. On March 19th, she acknowledged receipt of these orders. On March 20th she sent in a special weather report. This was the last message received from her. At normal cruising speed she should have arrived at Midway about March 31, 1945. When she was neither sighted nor heard from by April 16, 1945, she was reported as presumed lost. Japanese information concerning antisubmarine attacks gained since the end of the war gives no positive evidence to what happened to KETE; none of the attacks on U.S. submarines occurring within the period from March 20th to March 31st 1945, was made in a position in which KETE was likely to be. There were a few mine lines in the Nansei Shoto Chain but since KETE was already east of the islands at the time of her last message on March 20th and was heading home, loss through a mine is considered highly improbable. It is known that a number of enemy submarines were in the area through which KETE was required to pass en route to Midway. RO-41 was sunk east of Okinawa by an U.S. destroyer on March 23, 1945, and two other Japanese submarines were sunk southeast of Okinawa near this date. Conditions attendant to KETE’s loss suggest a likelihood that one of these submarines might have torpedoed and sunk her and been unable to report the attack before being sunk. Thus, KETE must be considered probably a loss due to an unreported enemy attack. She is credited with sending three medium freighters, totaling 12,000 tons, to the bottom on this last patrol. During her first patrol, conducted in the , KETE encountered no enemy targets. Eighty-seven men were lost with KETE that day. She was the forty-seventh U.S. submarine loss of World War II. KETE received one battle star for World War II service. 40

1965 - PCU GEORGE BANCROFT (SSBN-643) launched at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. PCU WILL ROGERS (SSBN-659) keel laid as WILL ROGERS at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. 1989 - USS WILL ROGERS (SSBN-659) onboard fire in the Atlantic. 1993 - USS GRAYLING (SSN-646) collided with a Russian Delta IV Class missile submarine in the Barents Sea near Murmansk. There were no injuries but U.S. leadership was infuriated by the risks taken. USS LA JOLLA (SSN-701) collided with a Torpedo Retriever. March 21 1918 - PCU R-10 (SS-87) keel laid as R-10 at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1942 - PCU MINGO (SS-261) keel laid as MINGO at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1943 - PCU COD (SS-224) launched at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1981 - PCU HOUSTON (SSN-713) launched at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA. 1989 - first submerged test launch of the eight-warhead Trident II missile was made aboard USS TENNESSEE (SSBN-734) off Cape Canaveral, Florida. 1994 - Ex-GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER (SSBN-656) disposition complete by Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. March 22 1911 - PCU SEAWOLF (later H-1) (SS-28) keel laid as SEAWOLF at Union Iron Works, San Francisco, CA. 1915 - PCU G-3 (ex-TURBOT) (SS-31) commissioned USS G-3 at New York Navy Yard, New York, NY. 1917 - PCU N-5 (SS-57) launched at Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, CT. 1982 - USS JACKSONVILLE (SSN-699) collided with the Turkish cargo ship the General Z. Dogan while running on the surface 25 miles east of Cape Charles, Virginia. Damage to JACKSONVILLE was reported as minor and characterized as "bumps and scrapes," while bow damage was reported on the General Z. Dogan . 1986 - USS Secota (YTM-415) lost power and collided with the stern planes of the Trident submarine USS GEORGIA (SSBN-729) off Midway Island in the Pacific and sank, just after completing a personnel transfer. Ten crew were rescued but two drowned. GEORGIA was undamaged. March 23 1911 - PCU NAUTILUS (later H-2) (SS-29) keel laid as NAUTILUS at Union Iron Works, San Francisco, CA. 1914 - PCU L-4 (SS-43) keel laid as L-4 at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1944 - PCU TREPANG (SS-412) launched at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA. 1945 - Ex-S-21 (SS-126) sunk as a sonar target off northern New England. 1947 - USS PERCH (SS-313) and USS Orlek (DD-886) were damaged in a collision during maneuvers off San Diego, CA. 1973 - USS QUILLBACK (SS-424) second decommissioning and struck from the Naval Vessel Register. 1991 - USS BOISE (SSN-764) launched at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA. 41

2005 - the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS SALT LAKE CITY (SSN-716) got underway after departing Naval Submarine Base Point Loma, CA, to conduct routine exercises in the Pacific Ocean. March 24 1915 - PCU N-4 (SS-56) keel laid as N-4 at Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, CT. 1931 - USS S-3 (SS-107) decommissioned; laid up at the Reserve Fleet at League Island, PA. 1945 - USS LANCETFISH (SS-296) decommissioned after she sank alongside Pier 8 at the Boston Navy Yard because a workman opened the inner and outer doors on one of her after torpedo tubes simultaneously. She was raised 8 days later. LANCETFISH holds the record for the shortest commissoned lifetime of any U.S. submarine (about 41 days). 1953 - USS HARDHEAD (SS-365) second commissioning at New London, CT, following her GUPPY conversion which included streamlining, installation of a snorkel breathing apparatus and larger storage batteries. 1975 - USS DACE (SSN-607) collided with a fishing vessel while surfaced in the Narraganset Bay area off RI. There was no reported damage to the submarine. 1995 - Ex-THEODORE ROOSEVELT (SSBN-600) disposition complete by Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. March 25 1915 - USS F-4 (ex-SKATE) (SS-23) sunk while making submarine maneuvers off Honolulu, HI in 51 fathoms, 1 1/2 miles from the harbor. Despite valorous efforts of naval authorities at Honolulu to locate the missing boat and save her crew, all 21 men perished. The investigating board subsequently thought that corrosion of the lead lining of the battery tank had permitted seepage of sea water into the battery compartment and thereby caused the commanding officer to lose control on a submerged run. F-4 was the first U.S. submarine lost for any reason. She was struck from the Navy List on 31AUG15. 1918 - the first submarine taken under depth charge attack was USS L-10 (SS-50). The attack took place off the East coast of the U.S. The attacker dropped two 300# depth charges which severely shook the submarine. The attacker, however, was a U.S. destroyer. The sub surfaced and fired a recognition flare to stop the attack. 1935 - PCU PICKEREL (SS-177) keel laid as PICKEREL at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1940 - PCU TRITON (SS-201) launched at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME. 1943 - PCU BARBERO (SS-317) keel laid as BARBERO at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1944 - USS SCULPIN (SS-191) struck from the Naval Vessel Register. 2003 - PCU HAMPTON (SSN-767) and the Peruvian submarine BAP Angamos took part in a joint U.S. Navy exercise while visiting the Hampton Roads, VA area. 2004 - the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS ALBANY (SSN-753) surfaced in the Gulf of Oman. ALBANY was participating in a Multilateral Undersea Warfare (USW) exercise conducted in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander Fifth Fleet area of responsibility. The exercise's objective was to promote Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) interoperability between the United States, coalition, and other multinational forces operating in the region. 2005 - USS ALBUQUERQUE (SSN-706) departed Souda Harbor, Crete, Greece, after a brief port visit. AlBUQUERQUE is homeported in Groton, CT, and is deployed with the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Cmdr. Dixon K. Hicks relieved Cmdr. Kevin R. Brenton as commanding officer of the fast 42

attack submarine USS PORTSMOUTH (SSN-707) in a ceremony at , Portsmouth, VA. PORTSMOUTH was inactivated in September and is currently in Norfolk Naval Shipyard undergoing preparations for decommissioning. 2006 - the guided missile submarine USS FLORIDA (SSGN-728) departed Norfolk Naval Shipyard, VA, en route to sea trials following conversion from SSBN to SSGN at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. March 26 1914 - PCU K-6 (SS-37) launched at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1917 - PCU O-1 (SS-62) keel laid as O-1 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. 1944 - USS TULLIBEE (SS-284), commanded by Cmdr. C.F. Brindupke, departed Pearl Harbor to start her fourth war patrol on March 5, 1944. She stopped at Midway to top off with fuel and was not heard from again. A statement taken from the lone survivor, C.W. Kuykendall GM2c, conveys that the boat arrived on station March 25 and on the night of March 26 radar contact was made on a convoy consisting of a large troop and cargo ship, two medium sized freighters, two escort vessels and a large destroyer. After several approaches TULLIBEE was unable to see properly because of squally weather. The escorts did detect her and dropped 15 to 20 depth charges. TULLIBEE closed to 3,000 yards and fired two bow tubes blind. Shortly, a terrific concussion shook the boat and Kuykendall, who had been on the bridge, found himself struggling in the water. Since range and bearing of escorts were known, he stated that he was sure the explosion was the result of a circular run of one of TULLIBEE’s torpedoes. Seventy-nine brave submariners were lost with her that day. She was the twenty-ninth U.S. submarine loss of World War II. 1981 - USS GUARDFISH (SSN-612) touched ground while in the San Pedro Channel on the way to San Diego, CA. There were no personnel injuries and an onboard inspection revealed no hull or equipment damage. March 27 1898 - witnessing her official trials, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt urged that the Navy purchase PCU HOLLAND (HOLLAND VI) (SS-1) but it was not until October 12, 1900 that she was formally commissioned USS HOLLAND at Newport. The Navy also ordered an additional six submarines on the same model. 1918 - PCU R-13 (SS-90) keel laid as R-13 at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1940 - PCU THRESHER (SS-200) launched at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1945 - PCU RONCADOR (SS-301) commissioned USS RONCADOR (SS-301) at Cramp Shipbuilding Corporation, Philadelphia, PA. 1959 - USS GUAVINA (SS-362) second decommissioning, assigned to reserve training in the 5th Naval District. 1973 - USS SEA LEOPARD (SS-483) decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register. USS GREENLING (SSN-614) went below her safe diving depth while training about 250 miles northwest of because a needle on a depth guage stuck. The true depth was disclosed on another gauge before the submarine reached a depth that would have crushed her hull. On 30 March the submarine arrived at her homeport of Groton, CT. On 10 April GREENLING docked at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, NH, for a thorough check. USS HAMMERHEAD (SSN-663), operating east of the Virginia Capes area at about 300 feet, struck a submerged object of unknown nature thought to be non-metallic, perhaps a whale. The impact was heavy enough to be heard and felt throughout the ship. There 43

was no discernable damage. 2003 - USS TOLEDO (SSN-769) operated with USS Donald Cook (DDG-75). TOLEDO was among the first ships to launch Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. March 28 1918 - PCU R-12 (SS-89) keel laid as R-12 at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1919 - PCU R-4 (SS-81) commissioned USS R-4 at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1944 - PCU SEA DOG (SS-401) launched at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. PCU SEA FOX (SS-402) launched at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. 1945 - USS TRIGGER (SS-237) departed Guam on March 11, 1945 under the command of Cmdr. D.R. Connole and headed for the Nansei Shoto area to conduct her twelfth war patrol. She was to provide rescue services for carrier based aircraft, as well as carry out a normal offensive patrol. TRIGGER reported her first action on March 18th. She made a seventeen-hour end around on a convoy she had previously reported, then attacked. She sank one freighter and damaged another. The other two merchantmen of the convoy and four escorts proceeded west. There was a large Japanese restricted area west of the Nansei Shoto in the East China Sea. Submarines were warned of its presence, given its position and were in the habit of proceeding around it to the north when patrolling there, suspecting mines. TRIGGER's convoy was heading for this restricted area. There had to be gaps in the mine lines, since the area was too big to be completely and effectively mined. ComSubPac told TRIGGER to give as much information as possible concerning the subsequent movements of the convoy, in order to help establish the existence of a safe passage through the restricted area; but TRIGGER couldn't regain a surface contact. On March 24th TRIGGER was ordered to join SEADOG and THREADFIN with Cmdr. E.T. Hydeman in SEADOG commanding "Earl’s Eliminators". SEADOG was unable to communicate with TRIGGER; to clarify, the wolf pack was disbanded. After many attempts to contact her by radio had failed, TRIGGER was ordered to proceed to Midway on April 4th. She failed to arrive by May 1, 1945 and was reported as presumed lost in enemy water on her twelfth patrol after a long and illustrious career. The Japanese report of an attack on the afternoon of March 28th states, “Detected a submarine over eight times and bombed it. Ships also detected it – depth charged. Found oil pool of 1 x 5 miles in size the following day.” It must be presumed that TRIGGER was lost in this action. TRIGGER is credited with one freighter sunk and another damaged on her final patrol. This made a total of 27 ships sunk (for 180,600 tons) and 13 ships damaged (for 102,900 tons) during the ship’s entire career. In her second patrol in the area south of Honshu, TRIGGER sent a freighter to the bottom and damaged two large tankers and a freighter. TRIGGER’s third patrol was a mining mission as well as an offensive patrol; it, too, was in the Japanese Empire. She saw a large freighter blow up and sink when it hit a mine she had laid and sank two freighters by torpedo attacks. Also, on January 10, 1943 TRIGGER torpedoed and sank the Japanese destroyer OKIKAZE near Honshu. TRIGGER covered the Palau-Wewak (New Guinea) traffic lanes on her fourth patrol and succeeded in sinking one freighter and damaging two more. Again in the area south of Honshu, TRIGGER sank a large freighter and damaged an aircraft carrier and a tanker on her fifth patrol . Her sixth and seventh patrols were in the East China Sea. On her sixth she sank three good-sized tankers and a freighter, doing damage to another freighter. Her seventh resulted in the sinking of four good-sized freighters, one tanker, 44

and one large transport. Her eighth patrol was made in the Carolines on the Truk-Guam route and she sank a large freighter-transport and an escort vessel. She sank four freighter-transports as well as a patrol vessel near Palau on her ninth patrol; she also damaged a large tanker, two freighters and a sampan. TRIGGER’s tenth patrol, as her last did, covered the Northern Nansei Shoto area. She received partial credit for sinking a small tanker, which was sunk cooperatively with SALMON. TRIGGER’s eleventh patrol was in the Empire, but resulted in disappointingly few enemy contacts and no attack opportunities. This ship was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for her fifth, sixth and seventh patrols. Eighty-nine brave submariners were lost with her that day. She was the forty-eighth U.S. submarine loss of World War II. 1945 - PCUs (SS-545) to (SS-550) construction cancelled. These were the closing days of World War II and an American victory in the Pacific was virtually assured. Other hulls had already been cancelled. 1953 - USS BASHAW (SS-241) second commissioning. 1981 - PCU BREMERTON (SSN-698) commissioned USS BREMERTON (SSN-698) at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. 1985 - PCU HELENA (SSN-725) keel laid as HELENA at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. 1997 - Ex-PUFFER (SSN-652) disposition complete by Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. March 29 1943 - PCU PADDLE (SS-263) commissioned USS PADDLE (SS-263) at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1944 - PCU COBIA (SS-245) commissioned USS COBIA (SS-245) at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1945 - PCU MACABI (SS-375) commissioned USS MACABI (SS-375) at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, WI. PCU STICKLEBACK (SS-415) commissioned USS STICKLEBACK (SS-415) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA. 1989 - USS WILL ROGERS (SSBN-659) onboard fire while deployed in the Atlantic. 1993 - Ex-JOHN MARSHALL (SSBN/SSN-611) disposition complete by Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. Ex-ULYSSES S. GRANT (SSBN-631) disposition complete by Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. March 30 1907 - PCU VIPER (later B-1) (SS-10) launched at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. PCU TARANTULA (later B-3) (SS-12) launched at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA. 1911 - PCU TURBOT (later G-3) (SS-31) keel laid as TURBOT at Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, CT. 1944 - PCU CAIMAN (SS-323) launched at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1948 - Ex-STURGEON (SS-187) struck from the Naval Vessel Register. 1957 - PCU SEAWOLF (SSN-575) commissioned USS SEAWOLF (SSN-575) at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT. 1968 - PCU PUFFER (SSN-652) launched at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation, Pascagoula, MS. 1998 - Ex-GEORGE BANCROFT (SSBN-643) disposition complete by Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. 45

2005 - USS LOS ANGELES (SSN-688) arrived at Apra Harbor, Guam, for a scheduled port visit. LOS ANGELES is homeported in Pearl Harbor, HI, and is currently deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism. 2006 - USS TUCSON (SSN-770) arrived at Commander, Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, Japan. TUCSON had recently departed on a six-month Western Pacific deployment from her homeport of Pearl Harbor, HI. March 31 1862 - CSS Pioneer, the first confederate submarine, was commissioned in New Orleans as a privateer. Pioneer most likely was scuttled just before the capture of New Orleans by Union troops. 1923 - PCU S-43 (SS-154) launched at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, MA. 1925 - PCU S-45 (SS-156) commissioned USS S-45 (SS-156) at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, MA. 1931 - Ex-S-49 (SS-160) struck from the Naval Vessel Register; sold for scrapping in 1935. Ex-S-50 (SS-161) struck from the Naval Vessel Register; sold for scrapping in 1936. 1941 - PCU MACKEREL (SS-204) commissioned USS MACKEREL (SS-204) at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. PCU HADDOCK (SS-231) keel laid as HADDOCK at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME. - PCU DEVILFISH (SS-292) keel laid as DEVILFISH at Cramp Shipbuilding Company, Philadelphia, PA. 1943 - PCU SEAHORSE (SS-304) commissioned USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA. 1945 - PCU DIABLO (SS-479) commissioned USS DIABLO (SS-479) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. 1952 - PCU TRIGGER (SS-564) commissioned USS TRIGGER (SS-564) at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. 1960 - USS PERCH (SS-313) second decommissioning at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA. PCU SCULPIN (SSN-590) launched at Ingalls Shipbuilding Company, Pascagoula, MS. 1967 - PCU JACK (SSN-605) commissioned USS JACK (SSN-605) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME. 1971 - the New York Times reported that a U.S. Navy Sturgeon-class nuclear-powered attack submarine collided with a Soviet submarine 17 nautical miles off the coast of the while on a secret reconnaissance mission as part of the "Holystone" submarine intelligence gathering operation. 1981 - PCU OLYMPIA (SSN-717) keel laid as OLYMPIA at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA. 1998 - Ex-GRAYLING (SSN-646) disposition complete by Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. 1999 - USS NORFOLK (SSN-714) was deployed in support of the NATO-led Operation Allied Force in Yugoslavia.

Reference: http://www.esryle.com/coblinks/tdish/index.htm

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USS Golet SS-361 WWII Memorial Presently in storage E-mail: [email protected] http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-golet-361.htm

Source: https://www.ussvi.org/MemorialList.asp?ST=LA

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April 2013 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 USS Pickerel John Nesbitt (SS-177) in 1943

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Stoney Hilton USS Thresher (SSN-593) in 1963 Happy Easter USS Snook (SS-279) in 1945 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Base meeting at USS Gudgeon O’Charley’s: (SS-211) in 1944

1800 Social 1900 Dinner

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 USS Grenadier (SS-210) in 1943

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